tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982919082318269632.post5408712395092190380..comments2024-02-13T02:27:53.181-08:00Comments on Straight Talk on Health Care: Factors Driving High Drug Costs and Ideas to Change the Paradigmhealthpolicymavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809491580295604800noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982919082318269632.post-32714941402151141032015-11-26T00:04:32.915-08:002015-11-26T00:04:32.915-08:00Hay, Great post. I have read your post carefully. ...Hay, Great post. I have read your post carefully. Really Awesome tips. <br /><br /> I have a good blog about Health and Beauty Tips. I am trying to give all important tips for all. I hope you will visit my site and give me a feedback. Click on <br /><a href="http://soundhealthtips.com/" rel="nofollow">Health and Beauty Tips</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11623889790716433844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982919082318269632.post-91599902384019920842015-11-11T10:37:10.319-08:002015-11-11T10:37:10.319-08:00Things we can do is to shop around for medications...Things we can do is to shop around for medications. Make sure you are getting the generic if it is available and it works, do not assume that the copay you have is the lowest price (think COSTCO) question your doctor about any medication they prescribe (why, side effects are there alternatives such as diet, exercise) do not jump on the "it is new so it must be better" bandwagon. UNDERSTAND YOUR INSURANCE! ask questions and be a thorn in their side. Contact your congressman, senators etc. The issues around the cost of medications and massive pharmaceutical profits and control will only change if we force change. <br /><br />The best way to stop the profits is to stop the need for the medicine so take care of yourself and your health. This is a naive approach, but in a country with rampant obesity and smoking, we can blame ourselves for allowing the pharmaceutical and medical system to take so much control of our lives and finances. <br /><br />Great information as always. We will only make a change if we understand what is broken in the current system. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982919082318269632.post-20556853626948641432015-11-09T15:43:54.215-08:002015-11-09T15:43:54.215-08:00Another informative article. It is indeed very fr...Another informative article. It is indeed very frustrating to see the prices of prescription drugs go up so much. Even with insurance it can break the weekly budget to pay for required medicine. The cost of and access to health care is one of my major concerns. I always feel a little better after reading your posts.C59https://www.blogger.com/profile/06869282900929595627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982919082318269632.post-42262627101343260422015-11-09T15:38:37.035-08:002015-11-09T15:38:37.035-08:00Though the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid would...Though the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid would like to negotiate for better prescription drug prices, this was prohibited when the Medicare Drug Act was passed under the Bush administration. Additionally, the limited drug benefit also comes from that era. Medicare at this point does not control the price of pharmaceuticals.<br />healthpolicymavenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13809491580295604800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982919082318269632.post-82996786972213475182015-11-09T14:49:59.846-08:002015-11-09T14:49:59.846-08:00A very informative article and of course the avera...A very informative article and of course the average consumer isn't aware of all this and yes we should do some searching but..<br />Any I paid $5.00 a pill for a blood pressure medication and it is not a new drug, Cardizem CD which is a old drug, but being I'm in the so called gap they can charge what they want, and I have to get it filled one more time before I can change and be covered after the first of the year. So seems to me there are no regulations and drug companies and Medicare D JUST charge what they want. Why I have hypertension is directly related to being a living related organ donor 22 years ago. Enough of this as I'm only 1 senior so I sure can't make a difference.Also I'm not poor enough to qualify for any help and I wouldn't want it anyway, that's why I worked fulltime until I was 70!! I know I'm fortunate to be able to pay this. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com